Investment Q&A

Q: In your answer to Shirley on Nov. 22 you wrote, "We think investors can position a portfolio more conservatively by raising the allocation to defensive names that emphasize downside protection with good upside potential." Can you give a list of 5 CAD and 5 US stocks that you think would fall under that statement?
Thank you

Q: I own the following in the health care field. Are there any other suggestions? My first choice is an ETF. I am considering IHI.

XLV, Stryker, JNJ, P & G

Thank you

Paul

Q: What are presently your Top picks in Healthcare; in either CAD or USD. Thanks.

Q: Appreciate your insights please.

Q: I am setting up a TFSA for my wife. I have been managing my own TFSA for 7 years but my wife has maintained her account with a BMO investment advisor. We also both have RIFs managed by the same advisor. My TFSA has far outperformed the accounnts managed by the professional (thanks to your advice) but my wife is very risk adverse. She has about $100 K to invest. We are both in our 70s and don't have pressing needs for the cash. Could you. suggest a basket of Canadian/US stocks/etfs that would provide some low risk growth with a 10 year horizon.

Q: I currently have a small loss on a small position in Elevance Health. Very poor momentum in the stock currently. I am considering a switch to UNH, but note that it trades at 2x the PE of ELV. What are your thoughts on adding to to ELV at these levels? Or adding at lower levels once it levels off? Would you make a switch to UNH, or abandon this particularly area of the healthcare space for another area such as devices or biotech?

Q: We are planning to set up a separate investment account for our grandkids. Assume a 10 year hold. There are a few sectors we would want to overweight - 3 stocks, CAD or US, in Financials, Industrials, Technology and 1-2 stocks in the others. What would you look for and how would that translate into individual stock selections.

Q: My portfolio analytics says to increase health care holdings. For a 3-5 year hold what are your top 3 companies or etfs to have. Not too risky but with growth in mind.
thxs Michele

Q: I am a very seasoned investor that has been lucky enough to come into some extra cash.

Regardless of sector. What are your top 5 US absolute must haves. For longterm and entry price guide.


Thank you, Jay.

Q: I hold these 8 US Heathcare stocks. Each are about 1.5% of my holdings. I would like to consolidate the 8 down to about 4 holdings. Which ones would you sell and which ones would you add to? Thanks for your great ongoing advice.

Q: Hello,

I have small investments in LLY, ISRG, and UNH within the health sector. With the recent news about increased competition for LLY in the weight control product market, should I take advantage of the price decrease to increase my stake in LLY, or would you recommend another biopharmaceutical company?

Thanks. Esther

Q: In your opinion, would a trump win in November be positive or negative for Unh

Q: I am considering adding Unitedhealth Group (UNG) to my portfolio and, before doing so, I would like to know your thoughts on this company. My only other holding in the health sector is ISRG and I would like to bring this sector up to 8% of my portfolio which normally would be 2 stocks. Do you think this would be a good addition? Or, do you have other suggestions?

Thanks, J

Q: Is MOH the superior choice in its space? Would you buy now for the next 5 years?
Thanks!

Q: I had a partial fill on a buy order for PFE and did not return to top up my holding . My position is too small to leave as is and I am unsure whether to add to the position or exit entirely. PFE is included in various dividend models, e.g. the AAII Dividend portfolio and the MS Global Dividend model. This prompted me to hang on. So did the many words by financial writers and commentators who have almost all been talking-up the health care sector for at least a year. Most comments by financial professionals and analysts are on how and why they expect the health care sector finally to catch up. Their focus on demographics does make sense. Yet, nothing happens to liven up the shares in pharma businesses, outside of a few stars like LLY and NVO. The share price of PFE itself has done nothing but decline. Do you the company has good prospects— good enough to ADD to the position? Or do you think I should just exit and be done with it ? (And give up on all the darn reading as research often gets one nowhere).

Q: Hi 5i, I have held Medtronic for just over 3 years and am down 30%. Do you think it's worth holding another year or two (as do a number of the analysts) or should I cut bait and redeploy the funds into LLY? Other suggestions are welcome. Do you feel Intuitive Surgical is overvalued or a good long term call? Thanks!

Q: I am interested to invest in the US health sector. Could you please suggest the best pharmaceutical companies in the market or companies related to the health sector? Thank you.

Q: My current exposure to the US market is through, ZQQ, VFV, VUN, VGG, and GOOG, AMZN, CVS, and BRK CDR’s. I would like to increase my US weighting and have CAD$150,000 to invest and am considering dividing this into equal amounts in V, MA, UNH, PFE, ADBE, and MSFT. Your thoughts on this approach and any other suggestions (5+ year holding period). Thanks!

Q: Your thoughts please on United Health and the recent information that caused a pull back in the price?

Q: Good morning;

I own the 4 stocks referenced at a 4.5% weight in my portfolio. ILMN was purchased as a turnaround candidate so I wish to keep it. XLV to hedge. UNH I have my initial investment out; it has bounced around quite a bit lately with no clear path but a target +/$75 above current price. May 1st you commented CVS is not one you would add to and it could be a value trap. I've owned it since prior to COVID and missed my opportunity to sell it off.

I want to stay exposed and grow my exposure a bit to the US (and maybe Canadian) health care sector. Other than a very occasional flare of positive results this sector has not been very beneficial to my portfolio other than a bit of modest income. I could part with (in order) CVS, UNH, XLV to build better growth exposure. I would appreciate your top 5 recommended options along with why you would put them on the list.

Thanks very much.

Dave